Mark Steitle wrote:

I've forwarded a post from the Velocity REFLECTOR site concerning insuring non-certified a/c. I know this has been discussed before, but since the insurance situation is ever-changing, I would appreciate hearing from those that have completed construction and are actually flying rotary-powered planes. Velocity is telling people that auto-conversions are uninsurable. Is this the case with the rotary? Bottom line... if I put a rotary in my plane will I have to "go bare" on insurance?
Thanks,
Mark

 
REFLECTOR: Engine

Just the other day I had a conversation with Dyane At Velocity about Insurance and he told me that he didn't know of any insurance company that would insure an auto conversion velocity. To top that off I have not heard  from Pam since our last conversation about insurance . The last time I talked to her she said that if she was able to talk to the right person maybe I could get insurance . This not encouraging to here that after spending the money and time in to put in a very capable conversion  that I may not get insurance  thus not even being able to Fly my plane .   So with a said heart I have decided to start looking for an aircraft engine (IO 540 ). Does any one have a line on one or have one they would like to separate from . Any condition will be consider Please Let Me Know   Thanks Ron N34CV   roncathy3@home.com(mailto:roncathy3@home.com)

Roncathy3,

   Are you sure you want insurance on it that bad?  I can understand the liability fear in case you crash in the middle of a public school, but beyond that you're going to have to do any repairs from a fenderbender yourself.  Even if you did fall in the schoolyard, the policy protection you would get wouldn't begin to touch the judgements brought against you anyway, so you would still end up in bankruptcy court for your own protection.  --  It's a sobering thought, but a spade is a spade...
    I'm also reminded of a conversation with an EAA Tech Advisor a few days ago.  We were standing in his garage admiring a new IO360 he was going to put in one of his airplanes when I asked him how many hours he flew his engines per year.  Upon hearing his reply I did some quick math and mentioned that he would get many years of use out of the new Lycoming.   --   His response jolted me...  He said in all his years and years in aviation he had rarely seen a certified piston engine make it to it's TBO, and most never got close!
    I sincerely hope you can find suitable insurance if that's what you really want, but before you buy it thinking you're completely protected, take a copy of the policy to your attorney and give him a hundred dollars to look it over and tell you what he thinks.  It might turn out to be the best spent money in your entire project.

Wishing you the best,
Robin

Ed Anderson has AVEMCO as I recall.

Paul Lamar
 
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